FIRST REGULAR SESSION
93RD GENERAL ASSEMBLY
INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVES WRIGHT-JONES (Sponsor), CHAPPELLE-NADAL,
HAYWOOD, BOWMAN, BROWN (50), CURLS, FRASER, BAKER (25), BLAND, HOSKINS,
DONNELLY, WHORTON, WALTON, DARROUGH, ZWEIFEL AND JOHNSON (61) (Co-sponsors).
Read 1st time February 23, 2005 and copies ordered printed.
STEPHEN S. DAVIS, Chief Clerk
AN ACT
To amend chapter 191, RSMo, by adding thereto one new section relating to contraception.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the state of Missouri, as follows:
Section A. Chapter 191, RSMo, is amended by adding thereto one new section, to be known as section 191.720, to read as follows:
191.720. 1. This section shall be known and may be cited as the "Birth Control Protection Act".
2. The general assembly of this state finds that:
(1) Citizens of this state have a protectable interest in the freedom from unreasonable government intrusions into their private lives;
(2) This interest in freedom from unreasonable government intrusions into the private lives of citizens encompasses and protects the right of consenting individuals to obtain and use safe and effective methods of contraception without interference by governmental entities;
(3) It is the public policy of this state that the interest in freedom from unreasonable government intrusions into the private lives of citizens, and specifically the right of consenting individuals to obtain and use safe and effective methods of contraception without interference by governmental entities, shall be safeguarded and that the laws of this state shall be interpreted and construed to recognize and protect these rights.
3. Notwithstanding any other provisions of law, no governmental actor or entity, whether state, county, municipal, or otherwise, within the state of Missouri, shall:
(1) Be authorized to act in any fashion so as to deprive consenting individuals of the right to obtain and use safe and effective methods of contraception; or
(2) Interfere with or discriminate against, in the regulation or provision of benefits, facilities, services, or information, the right of consenting individuals to obtain and use safe and effective methods of contraception.
4. Nothing in this section shall be interpreted to prevent implementation of laws, rules, ordinances, taxes, or regulations affecting the method and manner of sale or distribution of contraceptives, provided such laws, rules, ordinances, taxes, or regulations are reasonably designed to promote public health and safety, and do not have the effect of unreasonably hindering public access to contraceptives.